Despite tough setback to Mustangs, Deer’s playoff chances remain good

State-playoff-wise, Tuesday night’s 42-34 District 21-6A loss to North Shore didn’t damage Deer Park’s quest for a postseason prize, only the prestige of wanting to defeat a state-ranked foe was.

The season has boiled down to just four contests for new head coach Ryan Bright and something of importance could be riding on these last four.

But yes, playoff-wise the Deer are still in excellent position to keep their season alive past the Feb. 12th finale.

Deer Park slipped to 6-4 in district assignments but there’s a pretty good gap between the pretenders and the contenders.

Despite the loss to the Mustangs, Deer Park’s magic number to clinching was actually reduced when Beaumont West Brook defeated Channelview 86-68.

Essentially, Deer Park just needs to find two more wins and they’re in the playoffs. But there could be a greater calling for the maroon and gold to just snaring the fourth and final playoff berth.

Now a game back of third-place West Brook, Deer Park still has a chance of winning third place since it currently owns the head-to-head advantage on the Bruins, courtesy of a 64-51 win back on Jan. 15 in Beaumont.

Of its four remaining games, Deer Park has this Friday’s game circled in red and the second meeting with West Brook on Feb. 8 circled in red.

Friday’s game produces the second meeting with C.E. King, the team that is the reason Deer Park sits in fourth place right now. King, struggling with a 3-7 record, defeated Deer Park 39-36 on Jan. 8.

In Tuesday’s other games, Baytown Sterling defeated La Porte 68-55 and Beaumont United belted C.E. King 79-48. United and North Shore remain tied for first place with identical 9-1 records.